Inclusive Youth Leadership
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools brings youth with and without intellectual disabilities together through education, sports, and youth leadership to provide them with the opportunities to be advocates for acceptance, respect, and inclusion for ALL in their school communities. Inclusive Youth Leadership opportunities empower students to becomes leaders in the Unified Champion Schools movement, exploring their collective gifts, developing leadership skills, and leading unified activities alongside adult leaders in their school.
Inclusive Youth Leadership Opportunities & Resources
The Summer Educator Workshop for Special Olympics is an annual professional development opportunity for educators and other key volunteers where participants share and explore new strategies supporting Unified Champion Schools. This workshop is appropriate for those who are new or already deeply involved with Unified Schools.
Special Olympics works with schools to incorporate inclusive youth leadership into all aspects of unified programming, including Unified Physical Education and other inclusive class settings
Special Olympics South Carolina hosts 3 regional youth summits each year, where youth leaders connect, share, and explore Unified Champion Schools’ ideas, opportunities, and strategies. These summits take place in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston during November/December and are open to middle and high school students, with and without intellectual disabilities.
This annual event takes place late-March and provides an opportunity for Unified Champion Schools to come together in advocacy for Special Olympics and the promotion of inclusion. The event features a series of inclusive youth leaders speaking and performing for thousands! The event is also live-streamed.
Youth Activation Council
Special Olympics South Carolina’s YAC is a group of inclusive youth leaders compromised of high school students with and without intellectual disabilities. The YAC serves as a leadership opportunity for outstanding youth to come together on a statewide council as the core leaders for Unified Champion Schools. Throughout the year, this group works together to educate, motivate, and activate youth to become agents of change in their Unified Champion Schools and communities and advocate for the respect, inclusion, and acceptance of all people, regardless of abilities.
Is The YAC Right For Me?
Are You…
- A high school student in South Carolina
- Looking to promote inclusion in Unified Champion Schools and your community
- Interested in growing as an inclusive youth leader
- Committed to being a Unified Generation
Annual Requirements:
- Attend YAC meetings
- Help plan and implement annual Youth Activation Summits
- Attend other Special Olympics South Carolina events
- Be an agent of change
For more information, please contact Anna Parks at Email >
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
